Manama : The Head of the Terrorism Crimes Prosecution announced that the High Criminal Court issued judgments today in two separate cases, convicting two defendants of supporting the criminal Iranian terrorist attacks against the Kingdom of Bahrain through content published on social media.
The court sentenced each defendant to 10 years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of BD2,000, in addition to ordering the confiscation of the seized items.
The Public Prosecution had received two reports from the Cyber Crime Directorate of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption, Economic and Electronic Security, stating that two social media accounts had published images, videos and comments expressing support for the criminal Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Investigations led to the identification of those operating the two accounts. The Public Prosecution immediately launched investigations upon receiving the reports, questioned the two defendants, heard witness testimony, and assigned technical experts to examine the seized electronic devices. The examination results confirmed that the defendants had committed the offences attributed to them.
Based on the findings of the investigations, the Public Prosecution referred the defendants to the High Criminal Court, which heard the two cases over several hearings during which all legal guarantees, foremost among them the right to defence, were upheld before issuing the judgments.
The Public Prosecution emphasised that freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed within the framework of the law and that the use of social media must comply with legal requirements and must not undermine the security or stability of the Kingdom.
It also stressed that publishing or circulating material that supports or justifies terrorist acts constitutes a criminal offence punishable by law because of its impact on national security and civil peace. The Public Prosecution emphasised its commitment to applying the law with firmness and taking deterrent legal measures against those proven to have violated its provisions. It also urged citizens and residents to use social media responsibly in a manner that contributes to safeguarding the Kingdom’s security and stability.
